Device for regulating treatment of substances chronometrically



W. E. CURTIS.

DEVICE FOR REGULATING TREATMENT OF SUBSTANCES CHRONOMETRICALLY.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1918- 1,355,817.

Patented Oct. 19, 1920.

iiz A 0% [Uzi/7655 7 To all'whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES WILL ESPY CURTIS, OF EVANSTON', ILLINOIS DEVICE FOR REGULATI-NG TREATMENT OLE SUBSTANCES CHRON'OM ETR IGALLY.

' Specification of Iiette'rs Patent. Patented O t 19 1920 Original application filed February 23, 1917, Serial No. 150,470. Divided and this application filed June 27, 1918. Serial-No. 242,162.

Be it known that I, WILL EsrY CURTIS, a citizen of the United States, and a resi dent of Evanston, in .,the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Regulating Treatment of Substances Chronometrically, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device for automatically regulating the length of time during which an object or substance is sub jected to treatmentsuch, for example, as exposure to heat, chemical solutions or vapors, etc.-its object being to provide an apparatus and mechanism by which, for example, an object or substance being immersed, for instance, in a heated liquid is at an appointed time withdrawn from the same without further attention on the part of the operator. 7 V a t consists also in an extension of the constructive principle involved to an apparatus adapted to receive and care for in like manner any number of objects or substances with certainty of action and entire independence each of the other.

The applications of the invention in the arts are quite numerous and importantfor example, the immersion of textile and other fabrics in dyeing solutions, subjection of products to chemical action of vapors or liquid solutions, treatment of food products, such as eggs, fruit, and starchy substances by boiling water,printing of photographs from. negatives, and various other cases where the time of immersion or treatment or the beginning or termination of a given condition is important to be observed.

In the present illustrations of my invention I have selected its application to culinary purposes, and exhibit in the drawings an apparatus designed more particularly for use in connection with the boiling of eggs, for the use of hotels, hospitals, private dwellings, etc.

The principal objects of mypresent invention are to provide improved means for regulating chronometrically the treatment of substances; to provide an improved chronometric regulating device; to provide improved means for controlling the continuous movement of an element the provision of improved means for lowering and raising material from a treating bath, and

' present invention; and

the provision of improved means for allowing a member to movefreely in one direction, and at a predetermined limited rate of speed in the opposite direction.

In attaining these and other objects and advantages to be hereinafter set forth, I have provided a construction an embodiment'ofwhich is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure '1 is aside view'of a form of egg boiler constructed in accordance with my Fig. 2 is a front view of shown in Fig. 1. V

In the drawings of the parent case (application Serial No. 150,470, filed February 23, 1917) of which this is a division, two forms of construction are shown, in the first case, one in which the egg container is depressed and the timing mechanism is set by a single operation, and in the present case, a somewhat simpler form in which the egg container is depressed by a separate operation from that which sets the timing mechanism. The latter construction will now be described. I i

The apparatus illustratedin the drawing is arranged to stand in a saucepan or the like 1 and for this purpose is provided with a spider 2, the three arms of which are provided with feet 3 arranged to rest on the bottom of the saucepan. As shown in the drawings, the apparatus is shown in the position the parts assume, after the container 4 for the eggs 4* has been depressed the egg boiler and the timing mechanism operated to a' point where the egg" container is again about to rise and lift'the eggs from the water. The eggs are carried in an'annular container 4 arranged to slide up and down on a tube 5. A pin 7 is attached to the cylindrical part 8 of the container4. This pin passes through a slot 9 in the tube 5 which allows the container 4 to be moved downwardly into the water in the saucepan, and upwardly again at the desired time. The eggcontainer 4 is slotted as indicated at 8 to allow it'to pass the fluid container 30 below referred to. Within the tube 5 is arranged a helical spring 10 preferably of brass, or other material which will not rust or corrode by contact; with watery The spring 10 will normally tend to hold, the container 4 in its uppermost position, but

' upon downward movement thereof in setjecting portion adapted to contact with ting the device the 7 egg container is de pressed and held in the saucepan 1, as shown in Fig. 1. Y

Inside of the tube 5is arrangeda plunger 13,11ireferalfly of rectangular crosssecti'on,

arranged to pass through a complementarily shaped aperture let in the upper part of the tube This plunger is provided with :a prothe egg container {1 the pin 7 is brought under the hooked portions 17, of .a bifurcated spring latch-18 (as shown in Fig. 2)

so that the container l willrbe held in its depressed posit-ion until-the latch .18 is released from engagement with the pin 7.

The bifurcated. ends 17 of the latch 18 are spaced apart su fiiciently to allow the body ot the vplunger 13 to pass therebetween.

When thel-atc-h 18 has been moved out of engagement with the pin 7 the egg container is moved upwardly bymeans of the spring 10. This latch is released by the plunger 13 atagiven interval after the egg contrainer has been depressed. For this purpose theplunger 13 is provided with an enlarged end .52 having laterally extending portions- (see Fig; 2 adapted to engage the shoulders 20011- the two bifurcated end portions 17 of the latch-Band push them to one side,

7 and thereby'move the parts 17 out of, en-

gagement with the pin spring 101s tree-to movethe =egg container 7, whereupon the upwardly. UT heend portions 1 of the latch 18 are provided with inclined portions 1-9 (see Fig. l.) inm'der that the plunger 13 may push the ends "17oF the latch 18 aside on its downward movement, after-which the parts lispring baclcinto position to engage the p n 7. The action or" the device depends upon the fact that the time required forthe plunger to move-upwardlyunder the action of the spring 16 is chronometrically controlled so that the release of the pin 7 from the-"catch 17 by means of the plunger will take place at apredetermined interval after theplungerfh as-been'depressed. V

a For controlling the rate of upwardlmove moi-it of the plunger it is provided with teeth :21 tor a part-of its length. These teethfll are adapted 'to engage with a pinion This pinion 22 is'connec'ted to a speed I governor device, to be hereafter described, which will allow the-.pinion '22 to rotate clockwise (as viewed in Fig; 2?) without substantial'restrlction. The governor, -;however, prevents POM-111011 of the -.p1I110I 1 22 in contraratchet construction shown.

clockwise direction at more than a predetermined rate of speed. When. the plunger 13 is depressed manually by pressure on its knob 23 to its lowest extent, the teeth 21 will rotate the pinion 22rapidly ina clockwise direetioin and similarly theegg container 1: is depressed manually by pressure on the finger-holds'iil inorder to bring the pin 1' beneathiihe portions 17 of the latch 18. After the hand has been taken off' the knob the plunger will move very slowly upwardly under the action of the spring 16 V and thereby rotate the pinion 22 in contraclockwise direction. Until the toothedportion' offlthe plunger has passed the pinion 22 (when the plunger will move rapidly u pward under the'actionv :of its spring 1-6, thereby tripping the latch-18 and allowing the egg container to move upwardly) the speed of rotation of the pinion 22 is controlled, and the time. for one revolution, or a given part of a revolution thereof, is, therefore, substantially fixed. In order, therefore, to vary the time of tripping the number of teeth of the rack 21' brought into engagementwithrthexpinion 22 is varied. For this purpose an adjustable member 24: is arranged at the upper end of the plunger '13, theposition 'of which maybe variedby means-of-ithe thumb latch 43. The bottom portion of this member 24 engages the plug 26, mounted'within the tube 5, and conse quently limits the/distance the plunger 13 can be depressed in tube 5. This plunger is graduated in fractionsof minutes so that the device may be set so that the plunger trips the latch-18 at any desired length of time after it has been depressed. The thumb latch 43 ispivotally mounted at 4 1 on the member 24, and so weighted as to 'be held in engagement with one orzother of the teeth .21, except when withdrawn by'zpressure ipon'the finger-pieceili. V

The governor device shown includes a wheel 58 carrying a series of buckets 56 which may be mounted on an'e'ndless chain, 55, and are arranged toytake up material from-a container 30. The chain is arranged to pass around the sprocket wheel 58 which may be rotatably mounted on thesame shaft '34 which carries the pinion 22 now rota tably mounted thereon, which pinion meshes with the rack 21 on' the plunger 1-3. For driving the wheel 58 at the same rate of revolut-ion as the pinion 22,.in one direction, a toothed wheel 33 non-rotatably mounted on ,thesha-ft 34 maybe employed." @peraftive connection between-the pinion '22 and the wheel 58 :is made by means ofthepawvl and The spring pressed pawl -36 is pivotally mountedat 37 on the wheel 58. and adapted to engage ratchet teeth "on the wheel 33. 7 With this arrangement the pinion 22'is tree to rotate in a/clockw se direction wlthout rotating the wheel 58, but whenrotated in the opposite direction turns the wheel 58. Provision has been made for a pawl and ratchet connection between the pinion 22 and the wheel 58'in'stead of providingratchet teeth on the pinion 22 and the plunger 13 as it greatly decreases the wear and tear on the parts. If the plunger 13 and pinion 22 were provided with ratchet teeth, a heavy spring might be required to hold the partsin con tact, and on the downward movement of the plunger there would be excessive wear as theteeth thereon slipped over the teeth of the pinion while being pressed together by means of the spring.

The buckets 56 are provided with small apertures 57 in their lower portions so as to allow of the slow escape of liquid or finely divided solid from the buckets. Provision for accurate chronometric regulation depends on the careful proportioning of the buckets 56 and orifices 57.

The buckets 56, and the lower portion of the chain 55 where such is used, pass through a container 30 which is partially filled with a liquid, or a finely divided solid,-

so as to cause the buckets to dip beneath the surface of the material. The purpose of thisliquid or finely divided solid is to check the rotation of the wheel. I'prefer to fill the container 30 about as full as convenient so as to aflord ample supply of material for the buckets 56. The rotation of the wheel 33 in the direction of the arrow andthence thereby of the wheels 58 and 33 and the,

plunger 13, but as the material flows through the orifices 57, but in the opposite direction to the rotation of the wheel, the movement of the chain 55 continues until the teeth of the. pinion 22 become disengaged from those of the rack 21. Evidently the force required to rotate the wheel will in crease with the height to which the mercury is drawn up on one side of the wheel by the rotation of the wheel. ,There w1ll be a position of'equilibrium'between the driving force and the resistance to -movement offered by the mercury corresponding to a certain speed. i

In the operation of the device it is to be noted that the plunger 13 never -rises above the parts 17 of the latch 18. The plunger rises only far enough to trip the latch by means of the enlarged end 52 on the end of the'plunger which'engages the portions 20 of the latch. The spring 10 then raises the egg container 4 from the water as soon as the plunger has moved the latch 18 out of engagement with the pin 7. In the resetting of the egg container the governing device has to, be reset by pressure upon the knob 28 depressing'the plunger 13 and after adjusting the plunger to the desired position the egg container'has to be depressed by a separate operation, namely, pressure of the fingers on the finger-holds 51.

The principle involved in the foregoing form of governor may be applied to speed regulation in a number of ways as'in one aspect it consists broadly; in causing fluid to be moved at a velocity proportional to the velocity of a moving element and interposing a restriction in the path of the fluid so that the resistance to movement of the fluid increases withv the velocity of the element and at a given predetermined speed equals the force applied to that element to give it movement. In another aspect this principle consists broadly in providing a weight movable relatively to a member rotated from a source of power and having its center of gravity at a distance from the axis ofrotation of the member, and having frictional engagement with the latter so that the higher the speed the member is rotated the greater the displacement of the center of gravity of the weight with the re sult that a position of equilibrium is ob tained at a predetermined speed.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use what I'claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A chronometric regulating device com prising, in combination, a source of power, a flexible member moved thereby, a series of buckets arranged on said flexible member having orifices in their lower portion, and a supply of fluid, said flexible member being arranged to passinto and out of said fluid whereby the movement of said member is checked with a force increasing with its rate of movement and thereby a substantially constant rate of movement is obtained. 2. A chronometric regulating device comprising, in combination, a source of power, a member moved thereby, a series of buckets arranged on said member having orifices in their lower portion, a supply of fluid, said member being arranged to pass into and out of said fluid whereby the movement of said member is checked with a force increasing with "its rate of movement and thereby a substantially constant rate of'movement is obtained.

A chronometric regulating device comprising, in combination, a source of power,

"a membermoved thereby, a series of buckets arranged on said member having escape ori- .fices, a supply of fluid, said member being arranged on said member having escape orifices, a supply of fluid, said member being arranged to. pass said buckets into and out of said fluid supply and take upfluid whereby the movement of said member is checked with a force increasing with its rate of movement and thereby a substantially constant rate of movement is obtained.

5. A chronometric regulating device, comprising in combination, with a source of power, and a source of fluid, a member moved by power. from said source, and a series of retarding elements arranged on said member, said member being arranged to pass said elementsinto and out of said fluid whereby the movement of said member is checked with a force increasing with its rate of movement and thereby a substantially constant rate of movement is obtained.

6. A chronometric regulating device comprising, in combination, with a source of fluid and a source of power, a member moved by power from said source and a se ries of buckets arranged on said member having escape orifices, said member being arranged. for the supplying of fluid from said source to said buckets whereby the movement of said member is checked with a force increasing with its rate of movement and thereby a substantially constant rate of movement is obtained.

7. A chronometric regulating device comprising, in combination, with a source of fluid and a'source of power, a. member moved by power'from said source and a series of fluid containing retarding elements arranged on said member and having escape orifices, the several parts being constructed and arranged for the supply of fluid from said source tosaid retarding elements where-" fluid and a source of power, a member moved by power from said source, a series of fluid containing retarding elements arranged on said member and having escape orifices, and a slip connection between said member and said source of power whereby movement of one without movement of the other may be made in one direction, the said several parts being arranged for thesupply of fluid from thereby a substantially constant rate said source to said retarding elements whereby movementof saidmember. by thev source of power is. checked witha force increasing with its rate ot movement and thereby a substantially constant rate of movement is obtained. 1 Y

. 9. A chronometric regulating device, comprising, in combination, with. a sourceof fluid and a source ofpower,ia member moved by power from said source, a series of fluid containing retarding elements arranged: on said member and having escape orifices, and a ratchet connection between; said member and said source of power whereby, movement of one without movement of the other may be made in one direction, the said. several parts being arrangedforthesupply of fluid from said source to said; retarding, elements whereby movement of said memberby the source of pow-er is checked witha force increasing with its rate of movement and thereby a substantially constant rate of movement is obtained.

10. A chronometric regulating device comprising, in combination with a source of fluid and a source of power, a member moved by power from said source, a series of fluid containing retarding elements arranged on said member and having escape orifices, and a gearing between said member and said source of power whereby movement of one without movement of the other maybe made in one direction, thesaid' several parts being arranged for the supply offluid from said source to said retarding elements whereby movement of said member by the source of power is checked with a force increasing with its rate of movement and movement is obtained.

11. In an apparatusfor regulating chronometrically the treatment of substances, a member adapted to hold the material to be treated, releasable means for moving said holding member, and means for: releasing said moving means for the holding member, including a source of fluid, a source of power, a member moved by power from said source and a series of fluid containing retarding elements arranged on said member and having escape orifices, the said several parts being arranged for the supply of fluid from said source to said retarding elements whereby movement of said last mentioned member by'the source of power is checked with a force increasing with its rate of movement and thereby a substantially constant rate of movement is obtained.

12.. In an apparatus for regulating chronometrically the treatment of substances, a member'adapted to hold the material to be treated, releasable means for moving said holding member, and means for releasing said moving means for the holding member, lncludlng a source of, flu d, a. source of power, a member moved by power from said source and a series of fluid containing retarding elements arranged on said member and having escape orifices, and a variable connection between said member and said source of power whereby movement of one without movement of the other may be made in one direction, the said several parts being arranged for the supply of fluid from said source'to said retarding elements whereby movement of said last mentioned member .by the source of power is checked with a force increasing with its rate of movement and thereby a substantially constant rate of movement is obtained.

13. A chronometric regulating device comprising, in combination with a source of fluid and a source of power, a member moved by power from said source, and a series of retarding elements operable by fluid from said source and arranged on said member,

the series of retarding elements being constructed and arranged to permit the discharge of fluid from action on one of said elements into action on another of said elements, whereby the movement of said member by the source of power is checked with a force increasing with its rate of movement and thereby a substantially constant rate of movement is obtained.

14. A chronometric regulating device comprising, in combination with a source of fluid and a source of power, a member moved by power from said source, and a series of retarding buckets operable by fluid from said source and arranged on said member, the series of retarding buckets being constructed and arranged to permit the discharge of fluid from action on one of said buckets into action on another of said buckets, whereby the movement of said member by the source of power is checked with a force increasing with its rate of movement and thereby a substantially constant rate of'movementis obtained.

15. A chronometric regulating device comprising, in combination with a source of fluid and'a source of power, a membermoved by power from said source, and a series of retarding buckets and operable by fluid from said source and arranged on saidmember,

the series of retarding buckets being constructed and arranged for intercommunication to permit the discharge of fluid from action on one of said bucketsinto action on another of said buckets, whereby the moveincnt of said member by the source of power is checked with a force increasing with its rate of movement and thereby a substantially constant rate of movement is obtained.

16. A chronometric regulatingdevice com,- prising, in combination with .a source of fluid and a source of power, a member moved WILL ESPY CURTIS. 

